ADVICE PLEASE , friend staying 7 months

[Leaver]

On 5/14/2019 at 9:17 PM, JackThompson said:

This is only a concern if entering at non law-abiding entry points such as the Bangkok airports.  The land-borders (all but Poipet) follow the law - and denial of entry for "here too much before" is not valid.  So far, we are not seeing reports of denied-entry to those with valid Tourist Visas at Chiang Mai airport, either.  So, as long as his out/ins, and future Visa entries use safe entry points, being denied-entry is not a concern.

It's only a matter of time before the land boarders are the same as the airports, and also have biometrics.  

 

Had a funny conversation about the strictness of the airports with a friend the other day.  We both agreed that Thailand would be losing a lot of money in airport taxes, because of the ease of entry at the land boarders.  There would be a lot of people now flying to neighboring countries and entering Thailand by land, not to mention visa runner basically all having to enter Thailand by land. 

 

At something like 900 baht a passenger, that's quite a lot of money from visa runners and frequent travelers to Thailand that need guaranteed entry, thus use a land boarder.  

 

Makes you wonder if they will also implement a land crossing tax in the future.   

[JackThompson]

4 hours ago, Leaver said:

It's only a matter of time before the land boarders are the same as the airports, and also have biometrics.  

 

Had a funny conversation about the strictness of the airports with a friend the other day.  We both agreed that Thailand would be losing a lot of money in airport taxes, because of the ease of entry at the land boarders.  There would be a lot of people now flying to neighboring countries and entering Thailand by land, not to mention visa runner basically all having to enter Thailand by land. 

 

At something like 900 baht a passenger, that's quite a lot of money from visa runners and frequent travelers to Thailand that need guaranteed entry, thus use a land boarder.  

 

Makes you wonder if they will also implement a land crossing tax in the future.   

I do not know if the clique controlling some airports will gain control of the other entry points - or whoever directs this feels that is necessary to have the desired effect.  Chiang Mai airport appears to be OK for those w/ a Tourist Visa, based on reports.

 

As to the biometrics - Cambodia has had this for many years, but doesn't affect permission to enter.  This would be used to prevent people using false-identities / name-changes / etc.  It is not as though Thailand's land-border IOs do not have access to the same past-history info on us as soon as they swipe our passport - the difference is, they follow the law as written.

 

I doubt the tax-folks are part of this equation, given the restriction on folks entering with Tourist Visas or Exempt at airports only hurts the country economically and reduces tax-revenues overall.  The fix would be to crack-down on the IOs who are abusing their authority and denying-entry on false pretenses.

 

The agenda being implemented by the Bangkok Airport-IOs and Poipet appears to be based on corruption and xenophobia by a clique, rather than anything legitimate "from the top."  Otherwise, it would be codified into a Police/Ministerial Order.

Edited May 16, 2019 by JackThompson

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, Leaver said:

There would be a lot of people now flying to neighboring countries and entering Thailand by land, not to mention visa runner basically all having to enter Thailand by land. 

Presumably only those who are concerned about being turned back at the Thai airports. I don't see myself flying from London and tagging on a land trip from that dump PP, to a dusty land border, then a minibus for 5 hours travelling at similar speeds to the A380 I was on earlier. 

[Leaver]

On 5/17/2019 at 1:37 AM, JackThompson said:

It is not as though Thailand's land-border IOs do not have access to the same past-history info on us as soon as they swipe our passport - the difference is, they follow the law as written. 

What if those biometrics were under the control of "the clique" as you call them?  Then, they control the data base / computer, thus, can implement their agenda for entry into Thailand, which can not be over ridden at the local level. 

 

Do you really think that biometric data is just to stop criminals from entering Thailand?

 

That data can be used by Thailand for many different things. 

 

 

[Leaver]

On 5/17/2019 at 10:41 AM, jacko45k said:

Presumably only those who are concerned about being turned back at the Thai airports.

A lot of people should be concerned about being turned back from an airport, and if you are on an O-A, you can look forward to paying insurance, and if you are on 65k / 800K, you can look forward to increased amounts of funds required, and most likely insurance. 

 

That leaves a lot of "tourists" with the best option being tourists visas, entering over land boarders. 

[jacko45k]

9 hours ago, Leaver said:

That leaves a lot of "tourists" with the best option being tourists visas, entering over land boarders.

The issue is using tourist visas and tourist Visa waivers when a person is obviously  not a tourist. Thailand has decided it doesn't want you under the tourist umbrella, get the right Visa. 

Sadly Thailand seems to be squeezing out those now, with ever more onerous requirements, but in the meanwhile making us fill the odd coffer or two before we go!

[JackThompson]

20 hours ago, Leaver said:

What if those biometrics were under the control of "the clique" as you call them?  Then, they control the data base / computer, thus, can implement their agenda for entry into Thailand, which can not be over ridden at the local level. 

 

Do you really think that biometric data is just to stop criminals from entering Thailand?

 

That data can be used by Thailand for many different things.

Those at the top could already implement a restriction on time-in country via the existing system, if desired - but would likely need an official order to do so. 

 

Their system already allows new-passport/old-passport matching and counts lifetime Visa-Exempts.  There is no reason adding biometrics would have an effect one way or the other.  They already know who we are the minute they scan our passports - unless using a changed-name or something.

 

11 hours ago, jacko45k said:

The issue is using tourist visas and tourist Visa waivers when a person is obviously  not a tourist. Thailand has decided it doesn't want you under the tourist umbrella, get the right Visa.  

So far, only a portion of the Immigration system is under this mentality.  Extensions to tourist-entries are rarely denied at local offices - including CW.  Most entry points do not pretend a Tourist visa is not the "right" visa, for 60-day permitted-stays.  And the entry points which do have issues, are now reported to be complaining to visitors about requesting the full 60-days on their entry-card - so they evidently think even just 60-days is "too long" for tourists to be here.

 

11 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Sadly Thailand seems to be squeezing out those now, with ever more onerous requirements, but in the meanwhile making us fill the odd coffer or two before we go!

Agree on that part.  More and more of those on the "proper extension," will be paying extra to avoid hassles.